Chief Justice appoints panel to consider suspending Sciortino

COLUMBUS

Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor of the Ohio Supreme Court has appointed a special three-judge commission to consider the suspension of Mahoning County Auditor Michael V. Sciortino, who has been charged with 16 felony counts in the Oakhill Renaissance Place case in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.

The three retired judges the chief justice named Friday to the panel are Thomas J. Grady of the 2nd District Court of Appeals, David C. Faulkner of Hardin County Common Pleas Court and Timothy S. Hogan of Hamilton County Common Pleas Court.

The commission must make a preliminary determination whether Sciortino should be suspended from office within 14 days.

Sciortino may contest the preliminary determination, if it recommends a suspension, within 14 days of being notified and appear at a commission meeting to present his case.

That meeting must occur within 14 days of the notice by Sciortino to contest the preliminary findings.

After that meeting, the commission would issue its final determination and a written report.

At least one member of the commission must be of the same political party as Sciortino, who is a Democrat. Grady is a Democrat.

Under state law, all commission meetings and records are off limits to the public until the commission issues its written report.

If Sciortino is suspended, state law says the Mahoning County Democratic Party’s central committee would select his replacement.

A suspension would not bar Sciortino from remaining on the Nov. 4 ballot as a candidate for re-election.

Sciortino could not be reached to comment.

Read the complete story in Saturday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.